The U.S. National Science Foundation's EPSCoR program’s mission is to enhance the research competitiveness of specific jurisdictions (state, territory, or commonwealth) by investing in projects to strengthen institutions’ science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) capacity and capability. In alignment with that mission, EPSCoR CREST Center awards support the establishment of centers in EPSCoR jurisdictions that integrate education and research to promote the advancement of STEM knowledge, enhancements of the research productivity of individual faculty, and an expanded presence of students in those regions in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. The EPSCoR CREST Phase I: Center for Post-Transcriptional Regulation at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-Shreveport will create a first-of-its-kind interdisciplinary research center dedicated to understanding how cells control metabolism through post-transcriptional processes. This work will reveal how RNA molecules and protein modifications regulate metabolism in the body, discoveries that may ultimately lead to new biotechnological advances and translational applications. Beyond its scientific impact, the center will serve as a powerful engine for education and workforce development in northern Louisiana. It will offer immersive research opportunities for high school students, hands-on summer programs for undergraduates, advanced training for graduate students and postdo